Me: Listen, I got tired of you taking me for granted. This was a one-sided relationship, and frankly, I deserve better after devoting my reading life to you since I was 16 years old. No, I'm through. I can't keep coming back to you over and over again only to have my heart broken. I just can't take the abuse anymore.

PM: But Wendy, I can change! I promise, I'll do better. All you have to do is put your name on that waiting list. It's not like I'm asking you to buy your own copy of me. Just one more chance. One more teensy, weensy chance. Is that too much to ask for? After all these years? After all the enjoyment I've given you over the years? Please Wendy, I can do better!

Me: Shit.(For the record, my name is still not on the waiting list for a work copy. I'm trying to remain strong. I am tough. I am resilient. I am woman, hear me roar! Oh hell, I'm a marshmallow and we all know it. But dang, must resist. Must. Resist! I told myself I was done, and I really mean it! Uh, I think. I'm pretty sure anyway. Damn.)

Us 'Burnt Book Babes' must stay strong and NOT give in. You'll only taste the tears again of bitter disappointment--because you know what? If this one is better? The ones that came before will bug you even more!!

Jami: If I thought there was a possibility that Lucy would become a necrophiliac lesbian nothing would be able to hold me back from this book! Nothing! Muwhahahahahaha!

Everybody Else: I hope like hell an ARC doesn't float in here at work. Otherwise? Any shred of will power I have will go bye-bye. Maybe I'll be safe though. I think the last Cornwell ARC I got my hands on was for Book Of The Dead....which was several books ago.....

You know I don't get Cromwell. I read one of her earlier books and liked it OK but never got hooked. I read one of the middle books and knew it couldn't be the same writer since it had an entirely different tone, voice, everything but confusingly the same character names with radically differnt roles. Nay, I thought, I must have been confusing two similar authors. Then I got her latest for Christmas. It was SO CONFUSING. What the heck happened to these characters! He was a happily married colleague/mentor then he's dead and now he's come back and is married to her?!? The rebellious teen is now a lesbian, millionaire employing them both?!? With more "toys" than Donald Trump. I give up.

I won't even browse this book at Borders. I can't face decades of plot twists and god only knows how many not too well written books to get up to speed on fairly repulsive and unbelievable characters. Wendy, resist at all costs. It isn't worth your time to wade through this mess.

I'm sorry, but somewhere this series jumped the shark. Maybe it's the werewolf man still living. Maybe it's her strange fascination. I don't know, but it happened. I tried, Patricia, I tried. And then Lucy got weird(er). I'm sorry. The whole coming over in the freighter? The smell? I just can't take it anymore. I'm covering my eyes. If someone reads it, just one word will do. Meh, or YUCK!